US/UAE CTF DEMARCHE DELIVERED, TABATABAIE

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 003876 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CPI, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC IR AE SUBJECT: US/UAE CTF DEMARCHE DELIVERED, TABATABAIE REROUTING "ODD" REF: STATE 155307 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b & d). 1.(S) Summary: On October 3, post delivered reftel demarche to Yacoub Al Hosani, Director of International Organizations at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hosani said he may not be able to reply with a date for the US/UAE Counterproliferation Task Force until after Eid (i.e., late October). He stressed the importance the UAE puts on passing an export control law and is hopeful it can be passed by the end of the year. Hosani described the re-routing of the M/V Iran Tabatabaie as "very odd" and asked rhetorically whether US/UAE interdiction preparations in Dubai were observed or if the Iranians may have been tipped-off. End Summary. 2.(C) On October 4, EconChief and PolEconoff delivered reftel demarche to Yacoub Al Hosani, Director of International Organizations at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hosani said he would try to contact members of the UAE's Counterproliferation Task Force (CTF) to establish a date for the next meeting of the US/UAE CTF, but may have difficulty replying before the Eid Al Fitr as many Emiratis are out of the office during Ramadan. Hosani said the UAE's CTF will meet shortly after the Eid. He was unable to confirm the UAE team had met in September because he was not in Abu Dhabi at that time. 3.(C) Hosani stressed the importance the UAE places on passing an export control law, but stated it remains in the Cabinet's legislative committee. He said the Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ) "wants it", along with those responsible for enforcing current executive orders against proliferation. Hosani is doubtful the legislation can be passed before mid-November and said he was "hopeful" that the legislation could be passed by the end of the year. Once the bill passes the legislative committee, it goes to the cabinet then to the rulers of the seven emirates. Hosani said he would raise the issue again with AbZ and the UAE CTF. (Note: On October 3, the Australian Embassy contacted econchief to discuss a recent meeting they had had with UAE customs authorities on export controls. The sense that the Australians got was that the UAEG was having technical difficulties linking the export controls legislation to existing legislation. End Note.) 4.(S) Hosani said the UAE looks forward to continued counterproliferation cooperation and described the re-routing of the M/V Iran Tabatabaie as "very odd". He asked rhetorically whether US/UAE interdiction preparations in Dubai were observed or if the Iranians may have been tipped-off. Hosani requested to be provided the original information that was given to Dubai Customs on the shipment in order to follow up with Dubai officials. Post will coordinate delivery with DHS/ICE attach. SISON